310.2/4–2054: Telegram
The Chargé in Austria (Yost) to the Department of State1
2648. Re Deptel 3073. From receipt Austrian memorandum of March 30 with its mention of UN Embassy was inclined doubt wisdom or usefulness of having Austrian membership raised in proposed five-power body, which was to concern itself with alleviations in burdens of occupation. We think it inappropriate to have proposed ad hoc committee concern itself with this problem.
Austrians will doubtless wish to renew plea for entry into UN at early date and Embassy believes we should give appropriate support [Page 1000] any Austrian move this direction. Our support of an Austrian plea would not in Embassy’s view involve us in any greater acceptance present status of Austria though Embassy agrees with Moscow’s 1279 recommending initial effort be made at UN. On the other hand if Austrian Government desired to sound out informally Soviets in Vienna, we should have no strong objection.
For Department’s background initial Austrian application of July 7, 1947 for UN membership was considered by executive committee on August 8. Soviet member demanded censure of Austrian Government for by-passing AC. Soviets insisted AC approval necessary while Western representatives maintained Austrians free to address UNGA directly. Matter dropped without action. However when Chancellor in accordance 6 A of Control Agreement submitted Parliamentary declaration of July 3, 1952 again seeking UN membership, executive committee unanimously took note of Chancellor’s letter of information and even thanked Austrian Government for it.
- Repeated for information to London (226), Paris (350), and Moscow (152). Passed by Department to USUN as Vienna’s 1.↩